An Ottawa woman could face up to 30 years behind bars after pleading guilty to disseminating child sexual abuse images. 32-year-old Shahnaz M. Baugher, who also has ties to Harvard, Illinois, appeared in La Salle County Circuit Court, where she entered a blind plea to one count of dissemination of child sexual abuse images. The charge carries a prison term of six to 30 years without the possibility of probation. Baugher was charged in the spring of 2022, following an investigation launched by the Ottawa Police Department after a Cybertip from the National Center for Missing and Exploited Children. The tip led investigators to an Ottawa man, 41-year-old Shain M. Sennott, who was found to be in possession of child sexual abuse material. Sennott pleaded guilty to multiple charges and was sentenced to 13 years in prison. He is expected to be released in 2031. During the investigation, authorities discovered that Baugher had transmitted one of the illicit images to Sennott. Baugher is scheduled to be sentenced by Judge Cynthia Raccuglia on November 15th.
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A local attorney from LaSalle has been suspended for neglecting a case. Louis L. Bertrand, a longtime attorney in LaSalle licensed since 1984, has been suspended from practicing law for at least one year following a ruling by the Illinois Supreme Court. Bertrand, who specializes in personal injury cases, was suspended after failing to serve a complaint on behalf of a client and subsequently missing ten court status hearings related to the case. His inaction ultimately led to the indefinite suspension. According to the Attorney Registration and Disciplinary Commission, Bertrand will remain suspended until further notice. The suspension requires him to petition for reinstatement after the one-year term ends. Bertrand must first face a hearing before the ARDC Hearing Board, and the final decision will be made by the Illinois Supreme Court. Bertrand has not yet commented publicly on the suspension or his plans for reinstatement.
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La Salle County Highway Department has announced that a section of Meridian Road in Troy Grove Township will be closed for bridge replacement work starting Monday, September 30th. The bridge, located approximately 500 feet north of North 39th Road, near the Bureau County line, and about two miles west of Illinois 251, is slated for a complete overhaul. The project is expected to be finished by December 15th, contingent on weather conditions.
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The LaSalle County Health Department is offering flu vaccination clinics beginning this morning from 9:00 until 1:00 p.m. The clinics are open to the public and no appointment is necessary. The next clinic is Wednesday, October 9th, from 1:00 to 4:00 p.m. and then Tuesday, October 22nd, from 9:00 a.m. to 1:00 p.m. Seasonal influenza vaccine and Influenza High Dose vaccine for seniors 65 and older are available in addition to the Vaccines for Children flu vaccine. The fee for the season flu shot is $25-dollars. The cost for the High Dose shot is $70-dollars. The health department accepts cash payment as well as insurance billing. An insurance card and photo ID is required. And, no doctor’s order is required. The flu clinics will be at the LaSalle County Health Department at 717 East Etna Road on the east side of the county governmental complex on Ottawa’s far north side.
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The Peru Police Department helped ensure child safety by inspecting 30 car seats during a “Seat Check Saturday” event, part of National Child Passenger Safety Week. Of the 30 seats checked, only four were correctly installed, with one seat having expired in 2016. Child Passenger Safety Technicians provided hands-on guidance to parents and caregivers, ensuring children were in the proper seats and the car seats were correctly installed. The event aimed to raise awareness of car seat safety, as car crashes remain a leading cause of child deaths. Parents were encouraged to register car seats for recall alerts and to regularly check their car seats. For ongoing support, the Peru Police Department offers free car seat inspections Monday through Friday. For more information on car seat safety, visit NHTSA.gov.
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The Illinois Department of Labor and the Office of the Illinois State Fire Marshal are working together to inspect haunted houses across the state before visitors are welcomed inside. All haunted houses are required to be inspected by the state fire marshal’s office prior to operation, except for haunted houses operated by not-for-profit religious, educational, or charitable organizations can apply for an exemption from IDOL inspection. Two fires in the 1970s and 1980s at haunted houses led to closer scrutiny of haunted house safety.
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The FBI and the U.S. Postal Inspection Service are investigating after a suspicious package was sent to the Illinois State Board of Elections in Springfield last week. The incident resulted in the building being evacuated on Friday. Suspicious letters were also sent to a number of other state election boards. Building service workers at the University of Illinois are on strike. SEIU 73 says 800 employees hit the picket lines yesterday morning. The work stoppage comes after the union and university failed to reach a contract agreement following months of negotiations. Another bargaining session was held yesterday.
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Former Chicago Alderman Ed Burke is behind bars in northwestern Illinois. Burke reported to the Federal Correctional Institution in Thomson yesterday to begin a two-year prison sentence. He was found guilty of racketeering, bribery, and extortion charges. The longest-serving alderman in Chicago history was accused of corruptly soliciting work for his private law firm from companies involved in redevelopment projects at the Old Main Post Office and a Burger King restaurant on the Southwest Side.
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An Illinois man is pleading guilty to taking part in the U.S. Capitol riot on January 6th, 2021. Justin LaGesse of McLeansboro entered a guilty plea to a felony charge of destruction of government property. Prosecutors say LaGesse and a co-defendant entered the U.S. Capitol by climbing through a broken window next to the Senate Wing Door. They also broke an exterior window of a room inside the Capitol with flagpoles. LaGesse will be sentenced in January.
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A Rockford man is going to federal prison for his role in retail store robberies. Katrail Bridges was sentenced to over seven years behind bars after being convicted in March of conspiracy to commit robbery. Prosecutors say Bridges agreed to participate in robberies in 2016 at a Best Buy store in DeKalb and a Simply Mac store in Cherry Valley. The group stole over 22-thousand-dollars’ worth of merchandise during the two robberies.
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23-year-old Bryanna M. Stash of Streator has a charge of possession of drug paraphernalia after an arrest by Streator Police Monday night at Oak and Main Streets. Stash was released with a notice to appear in court.
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LaSalle County Deputies investigated a two-vehicle accident at Illinois 18 and East 15th Road. 24-year-old Laela K. Smith of Peoria was westbound on 18 when she attempted to pass 75-year-old Janis J. Ott of Streator. While attempting to pass, Janis began to turn southbound on East 15th and Smith struck Ott’s vehicle causing heavy damage to the driver’s side door. Smith was cited for failure to reduce speed to avoid an accident. No injuries were reported.
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A 32-year-old woman was arrested in Peru on Saturday morning for allegedly endangering the life of a child. Authorities detained Katelynn J. Rasmunsion of Lasalle, at 11:34 a.m. at the intersection of Illinois 251 and 38th Street. She has been charged with endangering the life or health of a child and was issued a non-traffic citation.
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50-year-old Stephanie L. Skaggs of Streator is charged with retail theft. Streator Police arrested Skaggs Monday evening in the 2400 block of North Bloomington Street. She was released with a court date.
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A 39-year-old man was arrested following a DUI-related accident at the intersection of Illinois 251 and Shooting Park Road in Peru, Illinois. Estevan N. Perez of Granville was taken into custody on Monday. He faces charges of driving under the influence of alcohol and failure to reduce speed, leading to an accident.
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35-year-old John P. Freeman of Streator was arrested by Streator Police during the noon hour Monday at 400 East Livingston Street on a failure to appear warrant for driving on a suspended license. Freeman was taken to the LaSalle County Jail.
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A 22-year-old Peru man was arrested Friday morning following a traffic accident at the intersection of 7th Street and West Street in Peru. Drew Verway was cited for disobeying a stop sign after the incident, which resulted in injuries.
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A 28-year-old LaSalle man was arrested Monday afternoon at the intersection of 38th Street and Venture Drive in Peru. Hector A. Parra-Rodriguez was taken into custody at 4:50 p.m. on charges of driving with a suspended or revoked license and operating a motor vehicle with a suspended registration.
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WEATHER:
Tuesday
Periods of showers and possibly a thunderstorm before 10 am, then a chance of showers. High near 67. Northwest wind around 5 mph. Chance of precipitation is 90%. New precipitation amounts between a quarter and half of an inch possible.
Tuesday Night
A 10 percent chance of showers before 7 pm. Partly cloudy, with a low around 53. North northwest wind around 5 mph.
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OBITUARIES:
James “Jim” F. Duff, 70, of Ottawa, passed away on Wednesday, September 18th, at his home, surrounded by family. A Celebration of Life will take place at a later date. Arrangements have been entrusted to the Mueller Funeral Home in Ottawa.
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Judith Lorene Soulsby, 80, of Ottawa, passed away on Thursday, September 19th, at Loyola Medical Center in Maywood. Funeral services will be held at 11 a.m. today at Trinity Lutheran Church in Ottawa. Visitation will be at the Mueller Funeral Home in Ottawa and the church, one hour before the service. Burial will take place at St. Andrews Cemetery, on a later date.
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Raymond E. Voyles, 85, of Ottawa, passed away Saturday, September 21st at La Salle County Nursing Home. Visitation will be today from 5:00 pm until 7:00 pm at Ottawa Funeral Home. A funeral ceremony will follow at 7:00 pm. Burial will be in the Ottawa Avenue Cemetery at 1:00 pm on Wednesday, September 25th.
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HS SPORTS:
BOYS GOLF
Ottawa wins the I-8 title for the third straight season: At Kishwaukee Country Club in DeKalb, the Pirates get the Interstate Eight Conference Tournament championship ahead of runner-up Kaneland, and third-place Morris. La Salle-Peru carded a 363 to finish sixth in the Interstate 8 Conference Meet at Kishwaukee Country Club.
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GIRLS GOLF
La Salle-Peru 192, St. Bede 223: the Cavaliers to a nonconference victory at Spring Creek Golf Course in Spring Valley.
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VOLLEYBALL
St. Bede 2, Streator 0: The Bruins won in a nonconference match in Peru.
Indian Creek 2, Mendota 0: The Spikers lost in a nonconference match at Indian Creek.
Seneca 2, Reed-Custer 0: At Braidwood
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BOYS SOCCER
Sycamore 3, Ottawa 1: At the King Field pitch, the Pirates dropped the I-8 decision to the Spartans.
Indian Creek 3, Earlville 1: the Red Raiders lost a Little Ten Conference game in Waterman.
Serena 6, DePue 0: At Serena
Woodstock North 9, Sandwich 0: At Woodstock
Mendoa 9, Sreator 0: At Mendota
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PRO SPORTS:
The Chicago White Sox are poised to become baseball’s worst team in the post-1900 era. A loss to the visiting Los Angeles Angels tonight would be their 121st of the season. That would eclipse the mark of 120 losses set by the 1962 expansion New York Mets. It’s highly likely the Mets’ record will fall as the Chi-Sox have five more games after tonight’s matchup with the Angels. The ’62 Mets finished the season with 40 wins and 120 losses. The White Sox enter tonight’s game with a record of 36-and-120. Jonathan Cannon takes the mound for the Sox tonight. The first pitch is at 6:40 PM, and pre-game tonight is at 6 pm. To commemorate the Sox losing season stop in the WCMY studio and pick up your 2024 schedule magnets, only 15 are left!
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The Chicago Cubs opened up their series against the Philadelphia Phillies with a 6-2 loss at Citizens Bank Park yesterday. The Cubs gave up the first six runs of the game and didn’t get on the board until a two-run seventh inning. Mike Tauchman and Nico Hoerner both drove in a run during the losing effort, while Caleb Kilian was charged with his first loss in relief after surrendering five earned runs and one unearned run on eight hits in five-and-two-thirds innings. The Cubs remain in second place in the NL Central at 80-and-77. The Northsiders send Justin Steele to the mound against the Phillies tonight.
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The Chicago Bears will spend the week gearing up for their first conference game of the 2024 season. Chicago hosts the Los Angeles Rams at Soldier Field this Sunday. The Bears are coming off a 21-16 loss against Indianapolis in Week Three. Chicago is in last place in the NFC North at 1-and-2, the same record as the Rams. Sunday’s game kicks off at noon.
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COLLEGE SPORTS:
WOMEN’S TENNIS
At Milwaukee: IVCC went 1-1 in a triangular Sunday, beating Milwaukee 7-2 and losing to Elgin 6-3.